Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a condition in which the capsule around the shoulder joint becomes inflamed, thickened and tight. It usually develops without an injury, most often between the ages of 40 and 60, and is much more common in people with diabetes or thyroid disease. It passes through a painful 'freezing' stage, a stiff 'frozen' stage and a slow 'thawing' stage, and the whole course can take one to three years. Treatment eases the pain and helps movement return.
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Symptoms
- Shoulder pain, often a dull ache, worse at night
- Increasing stiffness over weeks to months
- Difficulty reaching up, behind the back or out to the side
- Trouble dressing, combing hair or fastening a bra
- Pain when lying on the affected side
When to See a Doctor
See a doctor if shoulder pain and stiffness last more than a few weeks or wake you at night. See an orthopaedic surgeon if the pain is not controlled or movement is getting worse despite physiotherapy. Get urgent care for shoulder or arm pain that comes with chest pain, breathlessness or sweating, which can be the heart, or for a hot, swollen shoulder with fever.
Treatment options
- Pain relief and anti-inflammatory medicines
- Physiotherapy and gentle home stretching
- Steroid injection into the shoulder joint, most helpful in the painful early stage
- Hydrodilatation: stretching the capsule with fluid injected under imaging
- Manipulation under anaesthetic or arthroscopic capsular release for persistent stiffness
- Better blood sugar control in diabetes
Common Questions
Will frozen shoulder get better on its own?
Most people recover over one to three years, but some are left with some stiffness. Treatment eases pain and speeds the return of movement.
Why is frozen shoulder linked to diabetes?
People with diabetes are considerably more likely to develop frozen shoulder, and it can be more severe and last longer. High blood sugar is thought to affect the connective tissue of the joint capsule.
Should I keep moving a frozen shoulder?
Yes, gently and within the limits of pain. Forcing painful movement early on can make it worse, while regular gentle stretching keeps the movement you have.
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